Sr. Lucille (Lucy) Dorothy Villanova, age 103, a Sister of Providence for 83 years, died on June 2, 2026, at St. Joseph Residence in Seattle.
Sr. Lucy was born in Clearing, Illinois, on February 26, 1923, to Anthony and Rose (Koscierzyna) Villanova. The youngest of three daughters, tragedy struck before she turned two when her mother died of tuberculosis. Her father was a stone mason by trade who never remarried — and received the gracious help of several relatives in raising the three girls.
Sr. Lucy’s first interactions with Sisters of Providence came at the tender age of nine, while attending St. Mary’s Training School (later Maryville Academy) in Des Plaines, Illinois. She’d attend high school there as well, graduating in 1941.
After a brief post-graduation spell in Chicago, Sr. Lucy entered the community in 1942, became a Novice a year later, and received Final Vows in 1947.
Sr. Lucy’s prolific education ministries would span 50 years and stretch the length of the West Coast, beginning at Providence Academy in Vancouver, Washington, in 1944. She amassed experience teaching nearly every grade level during tenures at St. Catherine School in Seattle (1946-48), Holy Family School in Seattle (1948-49), Our Lady of Holy Rosary School in Sun Valley, California (1950-58), St. Finbar School in Burbank, California (1958-60), Bishop Blanchet High School in Seattle (1960-64), Catholic Junior/High School in Anchorage, Alaska (1964-67), and John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in Burien, Washington (1968-72).
Beginning in 1979, Sr. Lucy would also spend 16 years infusing her talents in various roles at Providence High School in Burbank, California — as a receptionist, artist-in-residence, alumni director, assistant public relations, and assistant director of development.
Sr. Lucy was a celebrated artist whose masterful works include a mosaic she designed for the baptistery of St. Finbar Church, standing 12 feet tall by 6 feet wide. The mosaic required more than 700 hours of effort, and commemorates the Sisters’ contribution to education in the beloved San Fernando Valley parish. Sr. Lucy also loved creating banners, calligraphy, and stitchery. Her gift in artistry led to a ministry as a staff artist with Catholic Communications Northwest in Seattle from 1976-79.
Sr. Lucy would make a permanent return to Seattle in 2010, when she moved into St. Joseph Residence. A lifelong learner, she enjoyed staying current with the latest technological advances, and invigorated her fellow Sisters with her intellectual wit — including her renowned strength with jigsaw puzzles. She was an avid reader, and, true to form for her Pacific Northwest surroundings, was known to enjoy a good cup of coffee. She will be deeply missed and always remembered for her compassionate touch and inspiring creative talents.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her two sisters. She is survived by her nephew, John DeCillo, her extended family, and by the Sisters in her religious community.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, M1-C, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
To view Sr. Lucy’s obituary and picture, and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home.